BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The attorney for the Rev. Robert Paul Hollman has responded to claims by lawyers for two women charged in theft from the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity that their misplaced trust in the minister had led to the theft.

Hollman is former director of youth services for the City of Birmingham. He later moved to Dothan to pastor a church and last year moved to the Atlanta area.

Cunningham and Hollman both appeared for arraignment hearings Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Harwell Davis. The hearing was held at the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse in Birmingham.

During the hearings both Cunningham and Hollman waived reading of the charges and were released on unsecured bonds through the U.S. Marshal's Office.

Caulfield, along with Hoover mortgage broker Brad Bozeman, were arraigned last week.

Cunningham, Caulfield, Hollman, and Bozeman all have plea agreements with the U.S. Attorneys Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark is prosecuting the case.

Cunningham, 63, who resigned in March after 23 years as executive director of the agency, is charged with theft from a government program that received more than $10,000 in federal funding or assistance. Caulfield, 31, who also had worked for JCCEO, is charged with conspiracy in the scheme to defraud JCCEO.

Hollman and Bozeman are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the federal government in relation to making a false statement to a financial institution in connection with the sale of real estate.

According to court documents Cunningham and Caulfield bought multiple properties in Jefferson and Shelby Counties from Hollman. In exchange, Hollman agreed to pay closing costs and monthly mortgage payments until the properties resold. At some point Hollman stopped giving Cunningham and her daughter money to make the monthly mortgage payments.